Longford IFC: Killashee overcome Ardagh Moydow in the battle for a semi-final spot

St Brigid’s Killashee took a major step in their quest to qualify for the Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals when they eventually got going in the second half of the crucial Group A clash at McGann Park in Kenagh on Friday night. 

St Brigid’s Killashee . . . 1-19 Ardagh Moydow . . . 1-13 

Ardagh Moydow came into the game in a confident frame of mind after defeating Grattans in the opening round but came up against a determined Killashee outfit who were guilty of squandering several chances in the draw against Sean Connolly’s in the opening round.  

There was little to separate the sides in the opening exchanges as both sides took their turns to kick scores, Ardagh Moydow’s Dylan Coady was the standout as the attacker kicked 5 points (2 frees) along with a Killian Farrell point in the opening 15 minutes.

The response from Killashee were points from Dylan Farrell and Paddy Mollaghan and matters were soon level  as St Brigid’s midfielder Michael Farrell landed a marvellous two pointer effort in the 16th minute. 

Liam Keenan’s charges got three of the last four scores in the first half, a point from each man in the full-forward-line comprising Killian Farrell, Daryl Carrigy and Dylan Coady (free). The trio were Ardagh Moydow’s only scorers in the match.

Paddy Mollaghan got Killashee’s last point of the first half as his side trailed by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break. 

Ardagh Moydow played the better football and collected more loose possession whereas Killashee were quite undisciplined as they picked up 3 yellow cards in the first half. 

But Eamon Farrell’s side were the dominant force in the second half.  Dylan Farrell and Paddy Mollaghan converted a free each to get them up and running which were replied by another Dylan Coady free and a Killian Farrell point from play.

St Brigid’s  dominated the next 10 minutes as Dylan Farrell converted another free and 2 minutes later his brother Michael scored his second two-pointer from a long range free. The Killashee surge continued as Darren Cosgrove pointed and less than a minute later substitute Colin Cousins rattled the net after receiving a beautiful pass from Michael Farrell to really put Killashee in the driving seat as they led by 5. 

Then Paddy Mollaghan added 2 separate points from play which was followed by a third two pointer and second two point free from the impressive Michael Farrell. 

Ardagh Moydow looked dead and buried but the ever determined Killian Farrell got a goal which closed the gap to 5 with 10 minutes to go to set up what promised to be an exciting finish. 

But Killashee held possession for the next 5 minutes as it wasn't until the 57th minute that there would be another score which was a two pointer from the game’s top scorer Dylan Coady (who finished the game with 0-8). 

This left 3 between the sides but Killashee ensured the victory with points from James Willis and Dylan Farrell with the county regular kicking a brace of scores (free and play).  

Ardagh Moydow now take on Sean Connolly’s and Killashee face Grattans in the remaining group fixtures in a couple of weeks time.

ST BRIGID’S KILLASHEE: Barry Geraghty; Shane Cosgrove, Niall McCormack, David Buckley;  Keelan Cox, Jack Magan, Paddy Clancy; Conor Clancy, Michael Farrell (0-6, 1 two pointer play, 2 two pointer frees); Dylan Farrell (0-6, 4 frees), Darren Cosgrove (0-1), Tommy Killian; James Willis (0-1), Johnny Casey, Paddy Mollaghan (0-5, 1 free). 

Subs:- Colin Cousins (1-0) for C Clancy (injured, 25 mins), Mark Rossiter for D Cosgrove (52 mins); Nathan Steele for J Willis (59 mins); Jack McWeeney for T Killian (stoppage time). 

ARDAGH MOYDOW: Cian O’Beirne; Mark McCord, Tommy Powell, Jack Gallagher; James McGoey, Gerard Farrell, Shane Henry; Emmet Donlon, Conor Carroll; Diarmuid Farrell, Paddy Keenan, Connor Hogan; Dylan Coady (0-8, 3 frees, 1 two pointer), Daryl Carrigy (0-2), Killian Farrell (1-3). 

Subs:- Mark Quinn for G Farrell (52 mins); Paddy Hanley for E Donlon (stoppage time).

Referee: David Donohoe (St Columba’s Mullinalaghta).